Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday spoke to US President Donald Trump, discussing bilateral issues. The phone conversation focused on continuing the upward trajectory of India-US ties. Following the phone talks, PM Modi said both sides are committed to mutually beneficial and trusted partnership.
"Delighted to speak with my dear friend President @realDonaldTrump @POTUS. Congratulated him on his historic second term. We are committed to a mutually beneficial and trusted partnership. We will work together for the welfare of our people and towards global peace, prosperity, and security," PM Modi wrote on X after speaking to Trump.
"The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a mutually beneficial and trusted partnership. They discussed various facets of the wide-ranging bilateral Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and measures to advance it, including in the areas of technology, trade, investment, energy and defence. The two leaders exchanged views on global issues, including the situation in West Asia and Ukraine, and reiterated their commitment to work together for promoting global peace, prosperity and security. The leaders agreed to remain in touch and meet soon at an early mutually convenient date," a statement read.
The development comes amid talks between the two countries over the illegal immigration issue.
Opposed to illegal immigration: India amid Trump's push
Earlier on Friday, India said it is opposed to illegal immigration and would be ready to take back Indians staying illegally in the US provided their nationality is verified. The comments by External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal came as the Trump administration is preparing to implement a mass deportation programme targeting illegal immigrants living in the US.
Jaiswal said at a media briefing that New Delhi would take back Indians who have either overstayed in the US or any other country or are without papers.
He was responding to a question about reports that the US Department of Homeland Security has identified around 18,000 illegal immigrants from India.
India is opposed to illegal immigration because of its links to several forms of organised crime, Jaiswal said.
"We will take them back provided documents are shared with us so that we can verify their nationality, that they are indeed Indians," he said.
At the same time, he said, it would be "premature" to talk about the number of illegal Indian immigrants staying in the US.
In his campaign speeches for the presidential election, Donald Trump promised a radical shift to tighten Washington's immigration policy and vowed to carry out the "largest" domestic deportation operation of undocumented immigrants in American history and review the existing refugee programmes. After taking oath as the 47th US President this week, Trump directed American agencies to prepare to "immediately repel, repatriate, and remove" undocumented immigrants as part of his policy on the matter.
(With PTI inputs)